Last week 26 doctors, nurses and hospital administrators from 17 countries completed a unique seminar at Rambam Health Care Campus. The two-week course, held with Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs , has a simple–– and essential ––goal: to share Rambam’s rich experience and knowhow in treating trauma victims with medical personnel worldwide.

The course consists of lectures, workshops, simulations and tours throughout Rambam and Israel. All prepare attendees to build systems for treating victims of disaster –– both natural and manmade–– in their own countries.

This is the tenth annual course of its kind. Global interest continues to rise, along with the number of attendees. Countries that took part this year include Uzbekistan, Ecuador, Belize, Barbados, Ghana, India, Vietnam, Nepal, China, Serbia, Portugal, Colombia, Kosovo, Costa Rica, Kenya, Russia, and Thailand.

One of the course highlights was the practical workshop in applying moulage (simulated injuries). During the workshop, which took place last week, some of the course participants were “wounded” to various degrees and in various ways with the obliging help of professional makeup artist Moran Fridner. The makeup workshop helps in visualizing the treatment of trauma and mass casualty event victims, a medical specialty in which Rambam has accumulated wide experience over the years.

Rambam is Northern Israel’s only Level-1 trauma hospital. Thus, it treats the highest number of seriously injured patients in Israel–– twice as many as any other medical center here.

The international trauma course is just one example of activities held by Rambam’s Teaching Center for Trauma, Emergency and Mass Casualty Situations, which offers wide-ranging programs both at Rambam and abroad. Designated a Level-1 trauma facility, Rambam admits the most severely injured patients in times of natural disaster or war.

Currently, the hospital is constructing an underground emergency facility, which should be ready for operation in the next few months. There, some 2,000 patients can be absorbed, and in the case of chemical warfare, detoxified, treated and hospitalized. For more information see the Rambam Hospital site.